A Perpetually Binding Law

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Exodus 19:10-11
• Call to Worship — Psalm 105:1-6
• Hymn — Teach Me, O Lord, Your Way of Truth
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Sin — from Daniel 9:4-5
• Assurance of Pardon — Romans 8:1-2
• Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 7:18-29
• Pastoral Prayer
• Hymn — Father, I Know That All My Life
• Sermon
• Hymn — Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
• Benediction — 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

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Sermon Title: A Perpetually Binding Law

Scripture: Exodus 24:1-8; Exodus 34:1-9

I. Introduction to the Decalogue

A. The Ten Commandments (the Decalogue) come from two Greek words: deca (ten) and logos (words) — literally "the ten words of God" B. The Ten Commandments are given twice in Scripture

1. Originally in Exodus 20
2. Repeated in Deuteronomy 5 before Israel entered the Promised Land C. The Book of the Covenant (Exodus 21–23) is distinct from the Ten Commandments and contains miscellaneous civic and ceremonial laws

II. Contrasting the Book of the Covenant and the Ten Commandments

A. Difference in authorship

1. The Book of the Covenant was written by Moses (Exodus 24:4)
2. The Ten Commandments were written by God himself — "the work of God…the writing of God" (Exodus 32:16) B. Difference in the medium of writing
3. The Book of the Covenant written on parchment — temporary and perishable, symbolizing its transient nature
4. The Ten Commandments written on stone — symbolizing permanence and perpetual binding force C. The Ten Commandments are accompanied by the revelation of God's own name and character (Exodus 34:6-7) D. The tablets were placed in the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies, closely tying the Ten Commandments to the very presence and person of God E. Conclusion: As image bearers of God, we are made to reflect his holy character engraved in the Decalogue; the Ten Commandments are perpetually binding on both old and new covenant people of God

III. The Three Uses of the Law

A. The Constraining Use — the law restrains evil and promotes righteousness in civic society

1. The Book of the Covenant (Exodus 21–23) applies the Ten Commandments to Israel's civic life as a theocratic kingdom
2. Paul describes governing authorities as "ministers of God" who are "a terror to evil and a promoter of good" (Romans 13)
3. Even unbelieving rulers function as God's servants through common grace — all image bearers have the law written on their hearts (Romans 2)
4. The church is to pray for governing authorities so they may govern well and the church may live peaceable lives (1 Timothy 2)
5. When governing authorities promote evil and constrain good, they step outside their office and are to be opposed (e.g., Dietrich Bonhoeffer opposing the Nazi regime)

B. The Convicting Use — the law convicts sinners of sin and drives them to God's means of atonement through blood sacrifice

1. After God thundered the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, Israel cowered in fear, saying "do not let God speak to us, lest we die" (Exodus 20:19)
2. God immediately instituted the sacrificial system (Exodus 20:22-26) — the law convicted, the sacrifice atoned
3. The law "imprisoned everything under sin so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe" (Galatians 3:21-22)
4. In the Old Covenant, the law drove Israel to insufficient, repeated sacrifices; in the New Covenant, it drives us to the once-for-all sufficient sacrifice of Christ (cf. Hebrews)

C. The Conduct Use — the law gives redeemed sinners a rule for how to conduct themselves before God

1. God prefaces the Ten Commandments with a declaration of redemption: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Exodus 20:1-2)
2. The blood sacrifices reminded Israel of God's redemption — just as the Passover lamb was the paradigmatic sacrifice of the nation
3. In the New Covenant: those once slaves to sin are now "slaves of righteousness" (Romans 6:15-19)
4. The Puritans: once the law convicts and drives us to Christ, Christ turns us back to the law as a rule of conduct — a thanksgiving offering to our Redeemer
5. The Spirit writes God's law on our hearts so we are conformed to the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:3)
6. The goal: with the psalmist of Psalm 119, to love God's holy law because we love our Redeemer God